Torpedo



P. ORLANDO TORPEDO Filed Aug. 20, 1930 Fig.1

Patented Get. 6, 1931 LtZittit rarest series PAOLO ORLANDO, F FIUME, ITALY, ASSIGNOR TO SILURIEIGIO V/THITEHEAD DI FItTME SOCIETA ANGNII/IA, O1 FIUIVIE, ITALY, A COMANY O1 ITALY TORPEDO Application filed August 20, 1930, Serial No. 476,651, and in Italy August 30, 1929.

It is known that at the end of practice runs of torpedoes it is necessary to materially reduce their weight in order to increase thei buoyancy and obtain a safe recovery even in case of exceedingly large increases of weight.

T his invention comprises a device for ex polling ballast from the practice or collision head of torpedoes when the torpedo is reducing its speed at the end of its run and thus to increase its buoyancy.

On the annexed drawings is shown by way of example an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary central longitudinal section of the bow section of a torpedo equipped with this invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of parts of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale.

As shown in the drawings, the torpedo shell 2 provides a water compartment 1 confined by the bow portion of said shell, rear part1- tion 3 and central tube 1 containing the usual depth and sway indicator; in said compartment 1 compressed air vessel 5 is located, which is provided with an air inlet valve 6 and a plug 7 (Figure 2).

Vessel 5 is connected by means of a tube 8 with a valve casing 9 whose valve member 10 is held by spring 11 in closed position; outlet 12 of said valve casing opens in compartment 1.

A vane 14 is pivoted at 13 in valve casing 9, said vane being engaged by a catch 15 entering an opening 23 of vane 1 the pivoting hub 14 of said vane has a tail 16 acted on by a spring 121' located in a stationary sleeve 18 solid with casing 9, said spring tending to rotate vane 14; in the direction of arrow in Figure 2 around its pivot 13.

Said vane hub 1d has a depressed portion 19 concentric with pivot 13, which connects Will a cam surface 20 provided on said hub 14: and lying at a larger distance from axis of pivot pin 13 than said surface 19; a rocking arm 21 is loosely fulcrumed on a pivot 22 and extends intermediate vane hub 1 1 and the end of stem of valve member 10.

Catch 15 is fulcrumed at 24; and engages vane 1 1 by extending through opening 23 of the same; said catch 15 has a tail 25 engaged with a stem 26 which is mounted to reciprocate longitudinally in a sealed chamber 29 and is solid with a flexible partition 27 closing said chamber 29; a spring 28 located in said chamber acts on said partition 27 and stem 26 to hold catch 15 in engagement with vane 1st as shown in Figure 2.

1 On the bottom of compartment- 1 is located a duct 30 opening in said compartment and leading to a valve chamber 38in which a wvater exhaust valve 81 is held by spring 82 in closed position. v a r p A duct leads from valve casing 33 to an outlet 39 closed by a return valve 35 which is normaliy held in closed position by the pressure. of outstanding water while being free to move outwardly as permitted by a recess 36 and a stationary pin 37 under a pressure operative within compartment 1.

Vane 1 1 is provided with an outer projection 38 adapted to receive the action of water during the torpedo course, particularly when said vane is located in the nose portion of the torpedo head; of course, said projection should not extend beyond the torpedo outline when the device is in locked condition. as in Figure 2. Y

In operation,-when torpedo is within its launching tube the vane 14 with projection 38 if any is locked'within its seat and the operation of the device is restricted.

After the torpedo is launched and when it reaches a depth depending on the adjustment of hydrostatic partition 27 (say ten feet), said partition 27 is depressed into chamber 29, and stem 26 of the same releases catch 15 from vane 14 which then is rocked through a certain angle in the directionof the arrow to remain released from catch 15, should thereafter the partition 27 and catch 15 take again their vane engaging position upon a change of pressure through any cause.

During the torpedo run, vane 1 1 while being released'from catch 15, is held depressed by hydrodynamic reaction of water through whichthe torpedo is travelling; when torpedo slows at the end of its run the action of spring 17 on hub 14 and vane 14 is prevailing over said reaction and then said vane is rotated in the direction of arrow.

Then cam 20 of vane hub 14 causes the valve 10 to open and thus air stored under pressure in vessel 5 exhausts, through tube 8, valve 10 and outlet 12, into compartment 1 thus expelling lest water contained in said compartment through duct 30, 33, 34, and return valves 31 and 35.

Water lesting the bow compartment 1 is thus exhausted and the buoyancy of torpedo is correspondingly increased.

Thus the described device causes lest water to be expelled from compartment 1 when the torpedo run is completed and torpedo buoyancy is correspondingly increased.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is z- 1. A device for expelling ballast water in the bow compartment of torpedoes when the same are slowing under a predetermined rate, comprising a compressed air vessel having an outlet in said compartment, a water exhaust duct leading from said compartment to the outside, a valve controlling said outlet, a member subject to hydrodynamic re action of the water through which the torpedo travels, spring means acting on said member in opposition to said reaction, said member being capable of acting on the valve to open said outlet when the hydrodynamic action falls under a predetermined value, and means under the control of the hydrostatic pressure for maintaining initially said member in inactive position.

2. A device for expelling ballast Water in the bow compartment of torpedoes when the same are slowing under a predetermined rate, comprising a compressed air vessel having an outlet in said compartment, a water exhaust duct leading from said compartment to the outside, a valve controlling said outlet, :1 member subject to hydrod amic reaction of the water through which t e torpedo travels, spring means acting on said member in opposition to said reaction, said member being capable of acting on the valve to open said outlet when the hydrodynamic action falls under a predetermined value, a catch locking said member in inactive position, and a hydrostatic pressure responsive member adapted to release permanently said catch once said torpedo has sunk to a predetermined depth.

3. A device for expelling ballast water in the bow compartment of torpedoes when the same are slowing under a predetermined rate, comprising a compressed air vessel having an outlet in said compartment, a water exhaust duct leading from said compartment to the outside, a valve controlling said outlet, a pivoted vane subject to hydrodynamic reaction of the water through which the torpedo travels, spring means acting on said pivoted vane in opposition to said reaction, said pivoted vane being capable of acting on the valve to open said outlet when the hydrodynamic action falls under a predetermined value, a catch locking said pivoted vane in inactive position, and a hydrostatic pressure responsive member adapted to release permanently said catch once said torpedo has sunk to a predetermined depth.

4. A device for expelling ballast water in the bow compartment or torpedoes when the same are slowing under a predetermined rate, comprising a compressed air vessel having an outlet in said compartment, a water exhaust duct leading from said compartment to the outside, a valve controlling said outlc a movable vane having a face exposed to the hydrodynamic reaction of the water, a projection on the exposed face of said vane, spring means acting on said vane in opposition to said reaction, said vane being capable of acting on the valve to open said outlet when the hydrodynamic action falls under a predetermined value, and means under the control or" the hydrostatic pressure for maintaining initially said vane in inactive position.

5. A device for expelling ballast water in the bow compartment of torpedoes when the same are slowing under a predetermined rate, comprising a compressed air vessel having an outlet in said compartment, a water exhaust duct leading from said compartment to the outside, a return valve in' said duct, a valve controlling said outlet, a member subject to hydrodynamic reaction of the water through which the torpedo travels, spring means acting on said member in opposition to said reaction, said member being capable of acting on the valve to open said outlet when the hydrodynamic action falls under a predetermined value, and w us under the control of the hydrostatic pre ire for maintaining initially said member in inactive position.

6. A device for expelling ballast water in the bow compartment of torpedoes when the same are slowing under a predetermined rate, comprising a compressed air vessel having an outlet in said compartment, a water exhaust duct leading from said compartment to an orifice opening outside, a return valve closing said orifice, a valve controlling said outlet, a member subject to hydrodynamic reaction of the water through which the torpedo travels, spring means acting on d member in opposition to said reaction. said member being capable of acting on the valve to open said outlet when the hydrodynamic action falls under a predetermined value. and means under the control of the hydrostatic pressure for maintaining initially d member in inactive position.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

PAOLO ORLANDO. 

